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Fitzroy Falls Spiny Crayfish (Euastacus dharawalus)

The Fitzroy Falls Spiny Crayfish is a freshwater crayfish found in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales. It uses flowing streams and tributaries, including headwater and ephemeral reaches, so works affecting creek channels, banks or riparian vegetation may affect important habitat.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Critically endangered.

Seasonal planning

Breeding starts in May and June, with juveniles released in December.

Seasonal evidence: From published sources for this species.

Timing varies between sites and years.

  • Breeding and juvenile release: Breeding starts in May and June, with juveniles released in December.

Identification: Appearance

This spiny crayfish has spines on its claws, cephalothorax and pleon, and is commonly olive-brown above with a paler, orangey-cream underside. It can be distinguished from the similar *Euastacus spinifer* by its smaller size, reduced spination, fewer teeth in a specified part of the gastric mill, and absence of a pleon boss.

This spiny crayfish has spines on its claws, cephalothorax and pleon, and is commonly olive-brown above with a paler, orangey-cream underside. It can be distinguished from the similar *Euastacus spinifer* by its smaller size, reduced spination, fewer teeth in a specified part of the gastric mill, and absence of a pleon boss.

Identification: Confirming identity

Confirm the identity of any suspected record with a specialist and a photograph or voucher, as required by the relevant permit.

Distribution: Known range

The species was historically known from Wildes Meadow Creek above Fitzroy Falls. More recent discoveries have extended its known range into the headwaters of the Nepean and Wingecarribee Rivers and some tributaries in the Southern Highlands.

The species was historically known from Wildes Meadow Creek above Fitzroy Falls. More recent discoveries have extended its known range into the headwaters of the Nepean and Wingecarribee Rivers and some tributaries in the Southern Highlands.

Distribution: National mapping

The Commonwealth species distribution model (SNES) maps where the species or its habitat is known, likely or may occur. Use it with local records and site inspection.

Habitat: Habitat

It occupies flowing streams, from permanently flowing reaches to headwater and ephemeral feeder streams, and is not known to use the reservoir’s still waters. Stream substrates include mud and silt, cobbles, clay and bedrock.

It occupies flowing streams, from permanently flowing reaches to headwater and ephemeral feeder streams, and is not known to use the reservoir’s still waters. Stream substrates include mud and silt, cobbles, clay and bedrock.

Foraging habitat: Diet

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Breeding habitat: Breeding

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter

Stream refuges include banks, fallen timber, submerged and emergent aquatic plants, and spaces between cobbles. A study found that the crayfish preferred bank habitat over cobbles, fallen timber and open habitat.

Stream refuges include banks, fallen timber, submerged and emergent aquatic plants, and spaces between cobbles. A study found that the crayfish preferred bank habitat over cobbles, fallen timber and open habitat.

Threats: Threats

Habitat degradation and fragmentation, damage to riparian vegetation, altered flows, and competition or predation from introduced crayfish and fish are identified threats. Illegal fishing and extreme weather events may also pose risks.

Habitat degradation and fragmentation, damage to riparian vegetation, altered flows, and competition or predation from introduced crayfish and fish are identified threats. Illegal fishing and extreme weather events may also pose risks.

Threats: Works risk

Clearing or construction that degrades creek habitat or removes riparian vegetation may affect the species. In-stream barriers and altered flows can also fragment habitat; construction of the reservoir inundated habitat and divided the creek population.

Survey methodology: 1. Commonwealth guidance

Use methods consistent with the Commonwealth survey guidelines and engage a specialist with the right permits.

For EPBC Act referrals, survey effort and methods should be consistent with the on-ground surveys and data for referred actions under the EPBC Act, read with the Significant impact guidelines 1.1.

Survey methodology: 2. Limits

A non-detection is not proof of absence. Match survey timing to the species and season, and record effort.

Vegetation associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific vegetation association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Ecosystem associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific ecosystem association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Soil and substrate associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific soil association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Water and wetland associations: Water-associated habitat mentioned in profile

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

Stream substrates include mud and silt, cobbles, clay and bedrock.

Automatically indexed from existing profile text. Not a verified preference, mapped occurrence or habitat requirement. Check the original source and regional qualifiers before use.

Evidence: Unreviewed profile-derived candidate

Confidence: Not independently verified

Region: Scope as described in the quoted profile text; not independently verified. Profile states: NSW.

Habitat use: general

Fauna records and mapped habitat: Not yet analysed

Record locations can be overlaid with mapping, but record frequency alone does not measure habitat preference. No species is excluded from desktop assessments by this analysis.

No quality-controlled record-to-map analysis has been completed for this species. The existing generalised distribution dots and indicative range polygons have not been treated as precise occurrence coordinates.

A defensible run needs dated, independently attributable records, coordinate uncertainty, duplicate and captive-record checks, layer versions and regional scope. Preference and absence require additional survey-effort and detection evidence.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: No supported exclusion recorded

Not recorded is not the same as cannot occur. Low suitability, resident habitat, breeding habitat and occasional movement are different conclusions.

This library has not established a vegetation, ecosystem or soil-type exclusion for this species. This does not mean all habitat is suitable; the evidence needed to justify an exclusion has not been assembled.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: Before using a negative association

  • Confirm the taxon, geographic region, life stage and habitat function covered by the evidence.
  • Check survey methods, season, repeated effort and detectability before interpreting non-detection.
  • Investigate credible contradictory records and microhabitats absent from broad mapping.
  • Do not convert a missing map class, low record count or failed data request into species absence.

Before disturbance: 1. Desktop and approvals

Confirm whether the project could affect the species before works begin.

Check national mapping, state records and recent surveys for the site. An action likely to have a significant impact on this nationally listed species needs EPBC Act referral, and state permits apply where it is state listed.

Before disturbance: 2. Plan to avoid

Design the footprint, timing and access to avoid known or likely habitat, and brief crews on what to look for and who to call.

During disturbance: 1. Controls

Keep works inside the approved footprint and conditions.

Fence or mark habitat to be retained and keep machinery, stockpiles and spoil out of it.

During disturbance: 2. Stop and report

If the species is found unexpectedly, stop work at that spot and contact the project ecologist and the relevant agency.

After disturbance: 1. Records

Record outcomes.

Record sightings, habitat lost or retained and any injury or death, and report them under the approval conditions.

Rehabilitation: 1. Restore

Restore disturbed habitat where possible.

Reinstate disturbed ground with local species, return logs, rocks and litter, and control weeds and erosion until the site is stable.

Sources